Pocket record device



POCKET RECORD DEVICE Filed Aug. 12, 1954 k j. .5. INVENTOR THOMAS W.Baoov-s POCKET RECGRD DEVICE Thomas W. Brooks, Memphis, Tenn.Application August 12, 1954, Serial No. 449,429

3 Claims. (Cl. 4tl68) This invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovements in devices for recording series of numbers which areparticularly adapted for use as for example in recording a specifiedmileage appearing upon a motor vehicle speedometer or other set ofnumbers as desired. Devices have heretofore been contemplated which werereadily portable and easily carried for the purpose of providing a meansof recording a series of numbers or for score keeping purposes or otherentertainment purposes.

The prior devices have in general been characterized by an inefficiencyin operation which has permitted distortion of the series of numbersintended to be preserved on the device or have required elaboratedevices supplementing the recording device for the purpose of preventingsuch distortion.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a simple andefficient device by which a series of numbers may be accuratelyregistered and the registered record thus established be accuratelymaintained for such period of time as is desired and which may as easilybe changed to establish a new record when and as desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device which mayreadily be carried in the pocket of the user or may be suspended from akey chain or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable record devicewhich is adapted for use as by a motorist in recording certain mileagerecord, as for example when an oil change has been accomplished.

A further object of the invention is to provide a record devicecomprising a compact casing, a plurality of number carrying ringsrotatably mounted in the casing, means retaining the rings againstaccidental rotation, and a reciprocable and rotatable plunger having apinion at its distal end, the interior of the number rings beingprovided with a series of teeth adapted to mesh with the pinion of theplunger, and upon meshing and pinion rotation to effect desired rotationof the number rings independently; and

A further object of the invention is to generally improve the design,construction and efiiciency of record devices.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the presentinvention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment willbe readily understood from the following specification upon reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the record device of the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with parts broken away for purpose ofillustration.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view as on the line TIL-ill of Figs. 1 and2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken as on the line IVIV ofFig. 3; and

States Patent Fig. 5 1s a view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating selecteduse positions of the device during adjustment.

2,785,488 Patented Mar. 19, 1957 Referring now to the drawings in whichthe various parts are indicated by numerals, the device is housed in asuitable casing 11 provided along one side with a viewing window 13. Atone end the casing 11 is provided with a thickened end portionconstituting a bearing block 15, and at its opposite end the casing isprovided with an internal flat seat 17. Between the bearing block 15 andfiat seat 17 casing 11 is chambered to provide a substantiallycylindrical hollow interior, viewing window 13 communicating through thewall of casing 11 with the hollow interior thereof. Rotatably mounted inthe hol low interior of casing 11 are a plurality of band-like annularrings '19, each of the rings 19 being preferably provided with a seriesof numerals preferably arranged in numerical order in the usual fashionfrom 1 through zero.

Preferably the rings 3.9 comprise, as shown, a group of six rings andare thus capable of being arranged to register a series of numbers to asubstantial extent. Intermediate resilient expansion rings 2t? may beinterposed between rings 19. The rings 19, 20 .are arranged in abuttingrelationship with the endmost ring 19 adjacent bearing block 15, beingseated firmly against the bearing block 15, and with the oppositeendmost ring 19 being spaced from flat seat 17. The rings 19 areslidably and frictionally engaged with the interior of casing 11, thisfrictional engagement serving to limit undesired rotation of the ringsafter desired position thereof has been established. As shown in thedrawings, the rings 19 are centrally open and each of the rings 19 isprovided with a series of equally spaced, internally projecting teeth21, each of the rings being preferably provided with a series of tenteeth spaced equally with the digits appearing on the external face ofthe respective rings.

interposed between the opposite endmost ring 19 and fiat seat 17 is acompression spring 23 which bears against seat 17 and against the edgeof the endmost ring 19, constantly urging the series of number rings 19and expansion rings 20 into edge engagement, additionally serving toprevent undesired rotation of the rings. It will be observed thatcompression spring 23 is centrally open and that the material of spring23 does not extend inwardly beyond the inward extent of the material ofrings 19, thus leaving an elongated central passageway from end to endof the interior of casing 11. The device further includes numberadjustment means which preferably comprise a rotatable and slidableplunger assembly. Preferably the number adjustment means includes anexternal knurled cap 25 to which is rigidly connected an elongated rod27, the rod 2'7 being journalled in bearing block 15 and supportedthereby for sliding and rotating movement. At its distal end the rod 27carries a pinion 29, the rod 27 being of a length to position pinion 29in the open interior of the spring 23 when fully inserted into thecasing. The pinion 29, being provided with the same number of teeth asare rings 19, is adapted to 'be shifted by movement of rod 27 by therotation of external cap 25 to shift the engaged number ring so as toposition a desired numeral carried by the number ring opposite theviewing window 13. If desired, the casing 11 may be provided with a loop31 as for attachment to a key chain or similar device.

In the use of the device, the pinion 29 is selectively shifted bysliding rod 27 through bearing block 15 successively and independentlyinto engagement with number rings 19. Each number ring is independentlyrotated as described until a desired numeral has been moved opposite theviewing window 13, then the pinion is shifted into meshing engagementwith the next adjacent or another of the number rings, the operationbeing repeated until the desired series of numbers in the desiredsequence have been shifted into view through the viewing window 13. Itwill be observed that the internal teeth 21 on rings 19 are arranged inlongitudinal alinement so as to facilitate the longitudinal shift ofpinion 29 into successive engagement with the number rings. It willfurther be observed that when the number ring has been shifted to move adesired numeral opposite the viewing window the internal teeth 21 of therings are reestablished in longitudinal alinement due to the uniformspacing of the internal teeth.

This device is particularly useful, as for example in recording aspecific mileage reading upon a motor vehicle speedometer, the userbeing enabled to exactly reproduce the sequence of numerals appearingupon the speedometer reading, and to thus retain a record of suchmileage reading for such. length of time as is desired. The action ofspring 23 against the series of rings cooperating with the frictionalengagement between the number rings and the interior of casing Elli isthoroughly eifective to prevent undesired rotation of the number ringsafter the desired position has been established. This ettec-t is furtherenhanced by expansion rings 29, interposed between rings 19, whicheffectively prevent the transmission of rotation from a pinion-engagednumber ring to one or more unengaged number rings.

it will be understood that the foregoing description refers to apreferred embodiment of the invention, and that modifications may bemade therein without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

I claim:

1. In an indicia record device, a casing having a hollow interior, alateral viewing window extending longisaid l'Od being of a length toposition said pinion within said spring when said rod is extended intosaid casing to disengage said pinion from said rings, rotation of saidrod rotating said pinion and rotating a selected said toothedindicia-bearing ring when engaged by said pinion.

2. in an indicia record device, a casing having a hollow interior, alateral viewing window extending longitudinally of the casing andcommunicating with the interior, a series of abutting annular ringsarranged in parallel edge relationship, at least part of said ringsbearing record indicia, said rings slidably engaging the interior ofsaid casing against accidental rotation, part of the indicia of saidrings being exposed through said window, one end of said ring seriesengaging one end of said interior, a coiled compression springinterposed between the opposite end of said ring series and the otherend of said interior and urging said rings into abutting relation, saidspring holding said rings against accidental rotation, the

interiors of said rings and of said spring being longiend of saidinterior, said rod extending coaxially of said tudinally of the casingand communicating with the interior, a series of abutting annular ringsarranged in parallel edge relationship, at least part of said ringshearing record indicia, said rings slidably engaging the interior ofsaid casing against accidental rotation, part of the indicia of saidrings being exposed through said window, one end of said ring seriesengaging one end of said interior, a coiled compression springinterposed between the opposite end of said ring Series and the otherend of said interior and urging said rings into abutting relation, saidspring holding said rings against accidental rotation, the interiors ofsaid rings and of said spring being longitudinally alined to establish alongitudinal passage, each said indicia-bearing ring being internallytoothed and the teeth of said rings being longitudinally alined, a rodturna'bly and slidably supported by said casing at said one end of saidinterior, said rod extending coaxially of said passage, and a pinionfixed to the distal end of said rod, said pinion being of a size to meshwith the internal teeth of a selected said indicia-bearing ring andbeing shiftable with said rod into independent meshing engagement withthe respective said toothed rings,

passage, and a pinion fixed to the distal end of said rod, said pinionbeing of a size to mesh with the internal teeth of a selected saidindicia-bearing ring and being shifta'ble with said rod into independentmeshing engagement with the respective said toothed rings, rotation ofsaid rod rotating said pinion and rotating a selected said toothedindicia-bearing ring when engaged by said pinion.

3. In an indicia record device, a casing having a hollow interior, "alateral viewing window extending longitudinally of the casing andcommunicating with the interior, a series of abutting annular ringsarranged in parallel edge relationship, at least part of said ringsbearing record indicia, said rings slidably engaging the interior ofsaid casing against accidental rotation, part of the indicia of saidrings being exposed through said window, one end of said ring seriesengaging one end of said interior, a coiled compression springinterposed between the opposite end of said ring series and the otherend of said interior and urging said rings into abutting relation, saidspring holding said rings against accidental rotation, and means forselectively rotating said indicia-bearing rings, said rings and saidspring being coaxially alined to provide a passageway, said rotatingmeans being positioned in said passageway.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

